At $200–220, the ROG Strix Flare II is around 15–20% more expensive than the original Strix Flare when we reviewed it three years ago. Inflation and the rising cost of raw materials make this increase is more than understandable. However, the base cost including the ROG tax is a different matter entirely. The general use features are mostly the same as on the previous model, which itself was competing against up and coming Asian brands that have since grown in popularity and reputation alike. Some points listed above, including the USB pass-through port, I am happy were kept. But I would have liked ASUS to do better throughout for the average end user, including by making it a USB 3.2 Gen 1 pass-through while keeping the increased Cherry MX switch portfolio for those who want a speed or silent switch, for example.

For $200+, there are so many keyboards from other brands which also compete on the build quality, including with gasket mounts, better quality stabilizers, full aluminium cases, and even hybrid wireless connectivity. ASUS is hoping the more powerful microcontroller can make up for some of this with the increased polling rate and extensive software and onboard controls in favor of the ROG Strix Flare II. The brand recognition is a big deal too, as is the enhanced support for multiple different typing layouts and languages instead of just US ANSI as with smaller brands. Lastly, while the software experience isn't perfect, it's still bug-free and has a polished aesthetic that covers a rich product ecosystem.

Thus far, everything mentioned is common across both models, but let's face it—there's a reason ASUS sent the Animate version of the Strix Flare II for review. The standard version is extremely hard to distinguish from the previous Strix Flare since the plexi insert gimmick only goes so far in customizing the keyboard further without access to a laser cutter. However, the Anime Matrix feature on the Strix Flare II Animate catches the eye in all the right ways, and the increased compatibility with the entire content library made for ROG Zephyrus Anime Matrix laptops means there's already a good collection of ready-to-go content. This is critical since user-generated content can be hit or miss, as we saw on the previous page, and some of the first-party hosted content is just incredible in person. I'll again give ASUS an Innovation award, which they do seem to be racking up from us for keyboards—the only things I want to see improved are on the software front, and a reduction would be nice, of course. At around $175, the ROG Strix Flare II Animate would definitely be quite appealing in the high-end keyboard market!